The People's Academy
Partnering lived experience for university-wide impact at LSBUWelcome to The People's Academy at London South Bank University. We are a university-wide partnership between individuals with lived experience and professionals, bringing together a diverse group of people who use their own experiences to inform and improve education, research, and community engagement across all disciplines at LSBU. The People's Academy is fundamentally about partnerships. We are determined to foster a culture where individuals with lived experience are effective collaborators and play a central role in enhancing all aspects of the university's activities.
Who we are
The People's Academy at London South Bank University is a committed and diverse group of individuals with lived experience from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. We include students, staff, and members of the wider community who bring unique perspectives and insights based on their personal experiences.
We are advocates who work in partnership with professionals across the university to foster a culture of collaboration and inclusivity. Our aim is to ensure that lived experience meaningfully informs and enhances all aspects of LSBU's activities, including education, research, and community engagement.
With the belief that citizens (understood more broadly as individuals with lived experience relevant to the university's diverse work) working in partnership with professionals benefits everyone, the People's Academy strives to move away from passive involvement towards genuine collaboration. We are determined to play a central role in understanding problems, co-designing and delivering solutions, and evaluating the impact of initiatives across the university.
Inspired by the humanity, courage, commitment, steadfastness, and motivation of individuals both within the university and the wider community, we seek to create an environment where everyone's contribution is valued and where partnership improves the quality and safety of all that LSBU does by focusing on what matters most to people.
Our Vision
Our overarching vision is to work together to achieve:
- Sustainable progress and positive change for everyone connected with LSBU and the wider community.
- An improved understanding of well-being in its broadest sense, encompassing social, economic, environmental, and personal factors relevant to the university's diverse activities.
- Individuals with lived experience actively involved in every aspect of LSBU's work, including education, research, policy decisions, and service development.
Purpose
Together, we strive to:
- Shape the development of inclusive and effective educational programmes and research projects.
- Assist in the recruitment and development of staff and students who value and understand the importance of lived experience.
- Develop high-quality services and initiatives that are co-produced with those who will benefit from them.
- Support university leaders in embedding co-production principles across all levels of the institution.
- Improve perceptions and understanding of the value and impact of integrating lived experience in a university setting.
- Work with university leadership and departments to provide firsthand knowledge and insights that shape strategic decisions and policy development.
PA Member: “I like to be a small part, a cog in the machine, of helping to change the culture and ethos of health and social care education - so some of the negative things in my journey would not happen to others.”
Our beliefs
Our work is driven by a fundamental set of beliefs, based on evidence and the shared commitment of our members and partners. Our core beliefs, which shape our actions and engagement, are:
- Working together as equals enhances the education and well-being of individuals and communities connected to LSBU.
- We work collaboratively in an environment where no one is considered more important than anyone else.
- Individuals with lived experience bring new perspectives, knowledge, and abilities to improvement and innovation across all university functions.
- Partnership working improves confidence, knowledge, and self-care for all involved.
- By prioritising the perspectives of those with lived experience, we can improve the quality and relevance of our services, research, and educational programmes.
- We believe that LSBU can achieve sustainable progress with the help of the ideas, efforts, and commitment of individuals with lived experience and communities.
- We are dedicated to sharing knowledge and co-creating resources that meet diverse learning needs.
You can find out more about the People’s Academy by reading our manifesto here.
PA Member: “I find the People’s Academy to be very welcoming. I got first-hand experience with the students and being honest and open about my experience made me really appreciate the whole experience”.
What we do
Here are some of the key ways we contribute to education, research, and community engagement at LSBU:
- We enhance Education: Our members share their lived experiences with students across various disciplines, enriching curricula and providing valuable real-world perspectives. This can include contributing to course design, validation, review, and teaching. We also support the development of inclusive learning environments.
- We co-produce Research: We partner with academics to co-design and deliver research projects that address pressing societal challenges and are relevant to the experiences of individuals and communities. This includes participatory action research. Our members can contribute to the development of new knowledge.
- We support Service Improvement and Innovation: We collaborate with professional services and academic departments to identify areas for improvement and co-design innovative solutions that meet the needs of the university community and wider stakeholders.
- We facilitate Partnership and Collaboration: We act as a bridge between individuals with lived experience and university professionals, fostering genuinely collaborative relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.
- We promote Leadership Development: We contribute to the development of emerging and senior leaders by highlighting the importance of co-production and the value of lived experience.
- We seek Community Engagement: We work with local communities and organisations, such as Southwark Council and NHS trusts, on co-produced initiatives that address local needs and inequalities.
- We provide Feedback and Evaluation: Our members offer valuable feedback on the quality of services and initiatives, ensuring that the perspectives of those with lived experience are central to evaluation processes.
- We develop Resources and Training: We co-create information resources that meet diverse learning needs and support the principles of co-production. We also contribute to the development and delivery of training programmes, such as the PAR training for Community Researchers.
- Advocacy: Our members can advocate for improvements in services and the needs to address inequalities.
The team involved in the People's Academy was hugely professional, knowledgeable and honest. They were commended from the panel for their enthusiasm and for the quality of the paperwork and especially in terms of the service user input.
Partnerships
The People’s Academy is all about partnerships. We believe that where citizens work in partnership with health and care professionals everyone benefits. The Academy is proud to work with other partner organisations, such as:
- The Coproduction Collaborative at UCL
- Diabetes UK
- Local charities
Contact The People's Academy
Are you an LSBU teacher looking to bring the voices of citizens into the classroom?
Are you an LSBU academic who needs help to connect with people affected by your research?
Are you a citizen with lived experience, looking to have your voice heard?
If so, contact The People’s Academy by emailing peoplesacademy@lsbu.ac.uk
In this section
- The People's Academy
- Information for practice assessors and supervisors